What Causes a Crooked Penis?

Is your penis crooked? Does it curve or bend noticeably to the right or left when erect? This could be a sign of Peyronie’s disease.

It is perfectly normal for your penis to be curved to some degree upon erection. But, if you have a significantly crooked penis, especially if it is interfering with your ability to perform sexually, do not ignore it. A severely crooked penis could mean you have Peyronie’s disease.

Men with Peyronie’s disease have a significant curvature of the penis. The curve typical of Peyronie’s is caused by “plaque” or scar tissue that forms below the surface of the shaft of the penis. The first sign of Peyronie’s disease is you may feel a hard lump or a bump on your penis.

We are not exactly sure why that scar tissue forms, that results in a crooked penis. The latest research on Peyronie’s disease seems to suggest that the plaque usually starts out as the result of some kind of trauma that causes injury inside the penis. Men with Peyronie’s often do not remember a specific injury, but are commonly involved in sports such as mountain biking, horseback riding, or motorcycle riding, which can contribute to the condition. Vigorous masturbation, or sexual activity has also been linked to Peyronie’s. It is for these reasons that you should never attempt to bend an erect penis.

There may be a genetic predisposition to developing Peyronie’s, but as of yet, no specific gene linked to the condition has been discovered.

How Do I Know If I Have Peyronie’s Disease?

It is very important to be able to tell the symptoms of Peyronie’s Disease from just having a penis which may have a bit of a natural curve. You should only be concerned about Peyronie’s disease, if your crooked penis is interfering with your ability to perform normally, and if:

The curvature to your penis seemed to happen very suddenly, and is getting more pronounced over time

The curve in you penis is accompanied by pain or discomfort

Your penis curves very noticeably and consistently to one side, up, or down

The curve in your penis is accompanied by erectile dysfunction

Not all the problems with Peyronie’s Disease are physical. The issues surrounding Peyronie’s disease can also often cause depression, performance anxiety, and low self-esteem, all of which can contribute to performance issues and erectile dysfunction.

How is Peyronie’s Disease Treated?

In some rare instances, Peyronie’s disease goes away on its own. But in most cases, the condition stays the same, or may worsen. If your Peyronie’s is having a significant impact on your ability to perform sexually, there are currently treatment options available. Traditionally, Peyronie’s disease was only treated via various surgical interventions.

More recently, a prescription drug, known as Xiaflex has been introduced to treat Peyronie’s Disease. However, the drug is not 100% effective and like all prescription medications, it has a laundry list of possible side effects and complications.

We are using platelet rich plasma, or PRP therapy for the treatment of men with Peyronie’s. PRP for Peyronie’s is a drug-free, surgery-free treatment for Peyronie’s Disease. Originally developed as an ED treatment, PRP injections for Peyronie’s, not only help cure ED, they reduce the curvature typical of the disease.

In addition to PRP therapy, we are also finding success with using shockwave therapy for Peyronie’s Disease. In clinical trials, shockwave therapy has been shown to be an effective alternative treatment for patients with Peyronie’s, to typical surgical interventions such as penile grafts, implants, or suturing techniques, which are far more painful and invasive.

A 2016 study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, entitled, Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) as a treatment for Peyronie’s disease, concluded, “All patients were able to have intercourse after the treatment” and that “ESWT is effective and safe [for Peyronie’s Disease]. It improves sexual health. It has a positive effect on reducing pain during erection and improves sexual function and the mental state of patients.”